5 takeaways from Oklahoma softball’s three-game sweep in the Bulldog Invitational
The Oklahoma Sooners moved to 20-1 with their three-game sweep in the Bulldog Invitational. Oklahoma picked up wins over Southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi State.
SE Louisiana came into the weekend 19-2 and the Bulldogs were 16-5 before running into the Oklahoma Sooners buzz saw.
The Sooners used their powerful lineup and dominant pitching staff to leave little doubt who was the better team in Starkville.
The Sooners outscored their opponents, 29-3, in the three games with two shutouts and two run-rule wins.
The Sooners return to Norman for an impromptu game against South Dakota State on Monday (a makeup from the Omaha cancellation) before a top-five matchup with Florida State on Tuesday. Then Oklahoma will participate in the Omni Hall of Fame Classic in Oklahoma City.
Before we get to a big week of Sooners softball, here are five takeaways from Oklahoma’s three-game sweep in Starkville.
Sooners Nearly Unhittable
Oklahoma’s pitcher Alex Storako (8) pitches during a college softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Kentucky Wildcats at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Oklahoma, on Friday, March 3, 2023. Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma threw two more shutouts over the weekend to bring its season total to 14 in 21 games. Through 21 games a season ago, the Oklahoma Sooners had 12 shutouts.
The team ERA in 2023 is 0.98, slightly better than the 1.06 ERA Oklahoma recorded a season ago.
Alex Storako, Jordy Bahl, Nicole May and Kierston Deal have been phenomenal in the early part of 2023. And there’s still room for improvement.
Despite her perfect game against Southeastern Louisiana on Friday, Bahl’s ERA still sits above two. She was fantastic. However, on Saturday against Mississippi State, she had some trouble.
She allowed two earned runs on three hits and four walks in just two-plus innings of work.
In 2022, she finished the season with a 1.09 ERA. She’s been really good in spots, but has been hittable at other times.
May extended her scoreless streak to 39 innings and has 61 strikeouts to start the season. May didn’t allow a run against Mississippi State on Friday night and has been awesome this season. She’s one of three pitchers in Division I with an ERA of 0.00.
Not to be outdone, Alex Storako lowered her ERA to 0.24 after pitching four innings in relief of Bahl. She allowed three hits and no walks to pick up the win and move to 6-0 on the season.
Haley Lee Mashing the Ball
Oklahoma’s Haley Lee is walked in the second inning of a college softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Kentucky Wildcats at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Oklahoma, on Friday, March 3, 2023. Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
If Alex Storako has been Oklahoma’s best transfer addition, Haley Lee has been a close second.
Lee had another fantastic weekend in Starkville, going 6 for 10 with a home run, two doubles, five runs scored and seven RBIs. In the process, she raised her batting average to .453. She has become an integral part of the top of the order.
Jayda Coleman just getting on base
Jayda Coleman runs the bases as the University of Oklahoma (OU) Sooner Women’s Softball team plays UIC on March 4, 2023 at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Oklahoma. Steve Sisney, The Oklahman
Jayda Coleman has been awesome in 2023. She is hitting .500 with an on-base percentage of .662.
Any concern of a dropoff without Jocelyn Alo providing protection in the lineup can be laid to rest. Coleman has been an on-base machine. In Starkville, Coleman hit .833 with six walks, two doubles, five runs scored, two RBIs and three stolen bases.
With what she’s doing at the plate in addition to her defensive prowess, Coleman will be in consideration for National Player of the Year honors.
Alyssa Brito on Fire
Alyssa Brito bats as the University of Oklahoma Sooner Women’s Softball team plays UIC on March 4, 2023 at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Oklahoma. Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Heading into the Bulldog Invitational, Alyssa Brito was hitting .386. While that is a really good number that anyone would be proud of, Brito went into Starkville with a purpose and came out crushing the ball.
Brito went 7 for 12 with two home runs, two doubles, six runs scored and six RBIs. She’s hitting .429 on the season and raised her batting average .043 points over the weekend to give the Oklahoma Sooners five players hitting better than .400 (that have met the minimum).
Not Hitting HRs at 2022 rate, but Crush A Lot
Oklahoma’s Jocelyn Erickson (7) drives in a run in the first inning of a college softball game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Kentucky Wildcats at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Oklahoma, Friday, March 3, 2023. Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
When Jocelyn Alo graduated and went on to the WPF, you knew Oklahoma would be left with a void in the lineup. While the Oklahoma Sooners are still winning games and scoring a lot of runs, they’re doing it without hitting as many home runs as a year ago.
Though they haven’t hit as many home runs, they’ve recorded more extra-base hits in 2023 than through 21 games a year ago.
2022 – 21 games, 50 HR, 27 doubles, 7 triples = 84
2023 – 21 games, 35 HR, 50 doubles, 6 triples = 91
The Sooners will probably end up hitting fewer home runs, but with their pitching prowess, their ability to get on base and their prowess for extra-base hits, this team could be just as good or better than it was while winning the national championship in 2023.
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